Anyone who has spent hours and hours casting a spinning rod appreciates lower weight and a compact size. But when a big fish turns up the heat, a spinning reel has to muster the power to respond. Fortunately, the next generation of ultralight spinning reels feature design and technology to prevent corrosion and damage with beefed-up components and silky smooth drag for years of reliable performance.

PENN Clash II

In addition to a carbon fiber drag, CNC-cut gears, the water-resistant Clash II has a super-slow oscillating rotor with ball bearing line roller that lays line on the spool so it leaves the reel faster for longer casts with a light lure.

Okuma Inspira ISX

Inside the Inspira’s all-metal body, the small reel packs oversized gears, protected pinion and clutch and stainless-steel bearings. With sizes down to 2000 and priced around a hundred bucks, the Inspira ISX also packs a great value.

Shimano Saragosa SW A

Features like a water-resistant body, carbon drag and shielded stainless steel bearings make the Saragosa SW A virtually bulletproof. On the inside, the pinion gear is supported on both ends with low-friction bushing and a large cold-forged main gear provides cranking strength usually found on more expensive reels.

Daiwa BG MQ 2500-H

In addition to a long list of saltwater-ready features, Daiwa’s BG MQ most unique technology is the super low-friction grease on the drag washers. When a fish takes off, the drag engages smoothly and quickly applies even and steady pressure to the line.

13 Fishing Axum

A sealed rotor, corrosion proof ball bearings and ceramic line roller eliminate common failure points on the new 13 Fishing Axum. The soft and grippy cork reel knob is comfortable for long days finesse fishing.

Quantum Strive

Quantum is back in a big way with the introduction of the Strive. This lightweight marvel features 11 seals to be waterproof to IP standards and beyond, with a smooth carbon fiber drag system housed in a sturdy aluminum frame for bantamweight rigidity.

The post The Best Lightweight Spinning Reels appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Jack Crevalle

This fast and robust fighter will make you work for it from hook-up to finish—a beautiful fish that can grow over 3 feet in length.

Atlantic Bonito

The mighty mini tuna packs plenty of drag-pulling action into the game. Plus, they are pretty good in the pan, too.

Red Drum

You can find this one inshore or offshore, in the surf, or off a pier. But in the wash might just be my favorite place to tangle with these great fighters.

Spanish Mackerel

This underrated fish puts up a good fight the whole time, and you just might get some jumping acrobatics, too. Bring a cooler, as they are pretty good eating.

Florida Pompano

There’s a reason the majority of us Florida surf anglers target them! They put up a decent fight, but they really excel in the kitchen, with plenty of meat per fish.

The post Top Gamefish Species in the Surf appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

“I think that oysters are the answer. It’s one of the tangible things that we can do to improve water quality,” says Toadfish founder and CEO Casey Davidson. The company started the “Put ‘Em Back” movement to help clean waterways by replanting and replenishing oyster habitats throughout the country; often with the aid of a water cannon. How cool is that?

Davidson is right about the impact of shellfish on water quality. A single oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water a day, which helps remove harmful toxins that work their way into waterways through runoff. This benefits everything oysters share the water with, including the vegetation that holds the marsh together and species of fish skinny-water anglers love so much. Oyster reefs also provide valuable structure for baitfish and predators alike.

There’s a few ways that oysters are sent back into the water. One involves a barge and a water cannon, which broadcasts them over a large area. The other is community-based, with volunteers placing oysters in mesh bags lining them up along the bank. Typically, they are placed atop a wooden pallet to keep them from sinking into the mud. Other regions construct wire cages for the shells, which help build reefs.

To date, Toadfish has participated in oyster projects in eight coastal states. That amounts to 280,214 square feet of oysters planted and counting, which clean a staggering 82 million gallons of water each day. Want to help? Contribute by purchasing their products. Since their founding in 2016, Toadfish has donated 5 percent of profits to oyster recycling programs and other conservation initiatives. So far, the total amount of their donations has topped $500,000.

The post Conservation: Toadfish’s Oyster Rehabilitation Work appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Bajio Sigs With Rose Mirror

“The rose mirror lens color is the ticket for daily needs; we rarely have cloudless days here. The lens helps see the reds, seatrout and tarpon in contrast to the bottom. On sunny days, the lens cut glare so the surface roll and flash of prime targets or bait can be seen from a distance.” — Capt. Alan Jackson, NearShore Guiding, Beaufort County, South Carolina

Costa Fantail PRO With Copper Silver Mirror

“When it comes to our Lowcountry marsh, you have to be ready for it all. A calm sunny morning can quickly give way to intermittent or heavy cloud cover. Sight fishing is our preferred game, and around here, copper lenses reign supreme. This lens color fits with local water color to make shapes pop. I also wear a frame that prevents peripheral light from creeping into the corners of your eyes that can skew your focus and obscure your vision.” — Capt. Cleve Hancock, Brown Dog Sport Fishing, Charleston, South Carolina

Read Next: Prescription Sunglasses for Fishermen

Pelagic Navigator With Green Mirror

“The new Navigator frames are growing on me due to the light-blocking panels on the side of the frame. For the inshore waters I fish, green mirror/amber lenses or grey mirror/yellow lenses are the way to go. I keep both handy every time I’m out. On a typical sunny day, the green mirror/amber lens is my choice to reflect green light away from the eye.” — Capt. Tyler Kapela, Hit and Run Charters, Tampa Bay, Florida

The post What Is the Best Color Sunglass Lens For Fishing In The Marsh? appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Is permit on a self-tied fly on your list? Dream higher, man. Max out the credit card and head for the Seychelles. That’s where you’ve got the best shot at the ugliest, most challenging quarry in the shallows: a bumpie (bumphead parrotfish).

With a set of chompers that put sheepies to shame, these coral-eating behemoths can live 40 years and weigh triple digits. But boy, are they finicky. Wade quietly ahead of a school, lead ’em 50 yards, and drop an orange or tan crab fly in their path. Don’t even think about moving it; let the monster muncher do the work. At the slightest movement, strip-set and hang on. Want a goal to shoot for? Try Mark Weeks’ IGFA world record, set on the Providence Atoll in November 2019. Guide Brendan Becker put him on a 102-pound, 3-ounce butt-ugly bumpie, with a face only a crazed fly-rodder would love.

The post Fish Facts: All Hail the Bumpie appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Over the past year, Flip Pallot’s Instagram has featured airboat accidents, whitetail deer, turkey and hog hunts, making archery quivers for friends, and teaching fly-fishing school. The host of the seminal “Walker’s Cay Chronicles,” voice of Sport Fishing Television, and co-owner of Frigate Reserve rum is staying plenty busy. But not so busy as to avoid our “Favorite Things” Q&A.

Flip’s favorite….

… fly-fishing rod and reel: “Temple Fork Mangrove Coast rod, Nautilus fly reel.”

… flats-fishing destination: “The Bahamas, when I can’t be in the Everglades.”

… species to chase: “Snook.”

… place on Earth when not fishing: “Western Rocky Mountains.”

… memory from shooting “Walker’s Cay Chronicles”: “My first-ever blue marlin on fly in Venezuela with Jose Wejebe, a world record on 12-pound tippet, left overnight in a walk-in cooler to be officially weighed the next day. Someone cut a huge chunk out of it to eat while it was in the cooler.”

… piece of advice from Lefty Kreh: “Don’t let your loyalty keep you in situations that your common sense tells you to get out of.”

… way to drink Frigate Reserve: “Neat and at room temperature.”

… motto/saying: “Bye for now.”

The post Flip Pallot’s Favorite Things in Fishing appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Don’t miss the first moments of light on a slick-calm morning when exploring North Carolina’s Crystal Coast. Core Sound and Cape Lookout National Seashore provide an unforgettable setting. 

As I pole my skiff across a submerged shoal covered in eel grass, I’m hopeful to find a school of red drum. Perhaps some spotted seatrout are working the area, or maybe a striped bass has ventured into the zone. These waters see an abundance of fish, in large part due to the influence of both the northbound Gulf Stream and the southbound Labrador Current. Major ocean currents combine in this spot daily with the changing of the tides.

Read Next: North Carolina’s Crystal Coast is a Gem

Sportfish await the incoming tide to provide them with enough water to return to their desired locations. Look to the grass beds during the peak of each tide cycle, pinpointing the potholes and sloughs. Occasionally, anglers will see redfish with their backs out of the water and tails waving feverously. Seatrout tend to be more elusive, utilizing their disruptive spot pattern to blend in. For a few hours on each side of the low, fish concentrate together on the outer edges. I make a long cast beyond a familiar submerged drop-off into deeper water. My bait glides smoothly across the surface with help from a steady cadence. Suddenly, the water erupts, and I feel the weight of a solid fish striking the lure. These are the rewards of waking up early and getting out there.

The post North Carolina Backwater Fishing appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Braid Main Line to Leader

For anglers after a strength of 90 to 100 percent of the braided line’s break point, I recommend either an improved bristol using a Bimini twist, an FG knot, or a PR bobbin knot. Some knots are easier to tie than others.

Braid Main Line to Terminal Gear

To circumvent a leader and tie directly to lure, hook or swivel, the venerable palomar gets the nod for both simplicity and strength.

Mono to Hook or Swivel

Since mono is so much “stickier” than braid, several knots work fine, notably the palomar or that old favorite, the double clinch. When connecting to a lure, most experts prefer some form of loop knot, allowing free movement.

Braid to Braid Splice

Why? At some point, you’ll lose a bunch of line and need to top off 50 or 100 yards. I’ve done well by tying a Bimini twist in each end, then putting them together with a twice- or thrice-around loop-to-loop knot.

Read Next: Proven Knots for Inshore and Offshore Lures

Braid to a Spool Arbor

Use any of several arbor knots. Here’s a trick, especially with light braid. With a small piece of masking tape, tape down the arbor knot tight to the spool or else it will slip and never tighten under the line.

The post Five Knots to Know for Backcountry Fishing appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

You just know there’s a big snook lurking far under the lowest branches of the mangroves or that old dock, but how do you get a lure to ‘em? The answer: A low-trajectory cast that skips a lure across the surface before it settles down to work its magic. It can be tricky, but Gerald Swindle (a top bass pro from Locust Fork, Alabama) offers three tips for skippin’ success.

1. Shorten up. Whether with spin or baitcast gear, a shorter rod will make it easier. “If you’re normally fishing, say a 7-foot 2-inch rod, drop down two to four inches in length.”

2. Skip when conditions allow. “As much as I want to put a bait [in tight places], I understand that in choppy water or with strong winds, my skip won’t be accurate.” Look for smooth water for skip-casting.

3. Get closer to the target zone. Having to throw too hard typically causes an angler to throw too high or to hit the water too close and cause a backlash.

The post Master the Skip Cast appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Tarpon: Fenwick Elite XH, Penn Authority 5500

“The Fenwick Elite 8-foot XH rod matched with the Penn Authority 5500 reel is an awesome tarpon setup. It’s an all-around workhorse that is perfect for throwing your favorite artificials or tossing a live crab. The Elite has some nice features such as lightweight titanium guides with super-hard inserts, a reel seat with double-lock ring system, and a rubber gimbal mount rod butt that works great whether you choose to use a fighting belt or not. I like to match the Authority 5500 with 50-pound SpiderWire UltraCast braid for most of my tarpon fishing applications.” — Capt. Danny Latham, Reel Fishing Charters, Boca Grande, Florida

Redfish: G. Loomis NRX+ Inshore Casting, Shimano Metanium MGL 150

“Big reds can really put some stress on your gear, but the Shimano Metanium MGL 150 baitcaster has the pure power needed to maneuver fish out of heavy cover. Pair it with the G. Loomis NRX+ Inshore casting rod for precision accuracy when backwater fishing with swimbaits, jigs, and topwaters. The rod has the perfect load to make pinpoint casts all day long. Triggering inshore fish can come down to speed, and the Metanium MGL can move a variety of baits very fast. Plus, it’s very easy to adjust on the fly. This setup can handle just about any presentation or inshore species I encounter daily.” — Capt. Jason Catchings, Shimano Pro Staffer

Snook: Daiwa SOL AGS Inshore, Daiwa Certate

“Yeah, it’s remarkably lightweight. That’s the first thing you notice when picking up Daiwa’s SOL AGS Inshore rod. Utilizing HVF graphite blank material, Braiding X carbon weave tech, and AGS guides, Daiwa went all in on quality components and weight reduction. Now, when fishing backwaters for snook or seatrout, sensitivity and fatigue won’t be a problem. Pair the 7-foot rod with Daiwa’s Certate SW spinner. The Certate has a single-piece body and G1 Duralumin drive gear, both stolen from the 20 Saltiga. Together, the setup will break the will of anything you’ll likely encounter in the marsh.” — Sam Hudson

The post The Best Rods and Reels for the Backcountry appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.